Bob Almond

BOB ALMOND: Founder, Director, Treasurer (Fundraising, Ms. Inkwell Concept, etc.) : 1/08-present

Bob has been a comic book fan since elementary school and that will never change. After graduating with a BFA in illustration at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 1990, Bob advanced to the professional status of an ink artist in ’92 cutting his teeth on WARLOCK & THE INFINITY WATCH for two years for Marvel Comics. This led to an unbroken stint with Marvel for the next ten years, culminating with his three year run with Priest and Sal Velluto on the critically-acclaimed BLACK PANTHER series, leading to his winning of two Squiddies awards and an Ooks award for ‘Best/Favorite inker’. With projects at numerous publishers over the years like DC, Malibu, Wildstorm, Penny-Farthing Press, Acclaim, Harris, A First Salvo, Valiant Entertainment, IDW and Guardian Media among others, Bob returned to Marvel in 2007 for ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST-QUASAR and in 2011 for HEROES FOR HIRE. He recently worked for Ravesnake Comics from 2013-2015, embellishing two series yet to be officially announced and released. He also started a new relationship with Kingstone Media in late 2015 and Thrilling Nostalgia Comics Group in 2019. In February of 2018 Bob was invited to the World Premiere of the Black Panther film in Hollywood LA alongside his creative partners Christopher Priest and Sal Velluto. All three were credited in the end credits with “Special Thanks” for their contributions as “storytellers” and inspiring key material in the film.
In the last few years Bob had noticed that the credit usually designated to inkers was not as prevalent as it used to be and with the craft often misunderstood to begin with, especially with the onset of ‘digital inking’ he began writing his ‘Inkblots’ column in SKETCH MAGAZINE in 2007 in order to educate, discuss shop talk, and share his career experiences and the history of the medium. This column continued at First Comics News until 2010. This ultimately led to the formation of The Inkwell Awards in 2008 in his column which subsequently sprouted into what you see here today thanks especially to founding core committee members SKETCH editor Bill Nichols, Tim Townsend, Jimmy Tournas, and Daniel Best, the invaluable support of the first ambassadors Adam Hughes and Mike Marts, as well as a legion of contributors and ink artists Bob is proud to have the support of.
Bob is a comic book collector, ex-foster parent, Jarvishead, Master of the Obscure, been a mentor, WorkOutAvenger and contributes to the Facebook group MarvelADay. He probably holds the record for the most unpublished art pages for dead projects/publishers ever. He lives in New Bedford, MA with his wife Diane, son Nathan, Chihuahua sisters Taco & Belle and black cat T’Challa. You can visit Bob at his website The Bob Almond Inkwell (partially why the name ‘Inkwell’ Awards came about).


 

 

JOE PRADO: Brazilian Liaison, Fundraising, Art Consultant: 4/21 – present (Also Special Ambassador since 10/20)

 

Being chosen to be part of this prestigious committee is such a huge honor for me. In doing so, I’m happy that I’ll be able to help even furthermore to spread consciousness about what it is to be an inker and everything that comes with it! In my opinion, inking is a vital, quality-driven part of Comics as we know them, and because of that it will always be important to the whole process.
CHIAROSCURO STUDIOS (Co-Owner, Talent Manager & Artist)

 


RAY BURKE: Ceremony Multimedia Presentation, Chronicler, Auctioneer, Social Media, Graphics, 12/20 – 9/23 (Asst. Director)-present

Ray has lettered indie books and written a few scripts. When he’s not planning his supervillain lair, his creative endeavors range from programming to artwork, and he enjoys finding ways to merge art and technology. He is also the multimedia contributor, including all eight years at the host Heroes Con shows, has helped out on the floor at the shows he attended, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for the Inkwell Awards.

 


ERICK KORPI: Fundraiser/Inking Challenges/Art Consultant: 5/17-present

Ever since the young age of 11 picking up GI Joe #55 off the spinner rack, Erick has been involved in comics.  A rabid fan,  he actively progressed to a collector of books, art, toys and statues. Along the way he started befriending artists and started working for local comic shops and eventually the Boston Comic Cons. Working alongside Bob Shaw creating Comicarthouse.com as a Recruiter/ Representative, he got nicknamed the “The Guru” because of his encyclopedic knowledge of the industry and the people working within it. Eventually, he took the high road and became a contributor to the Inkwell Awards in 2011 and has been part of that rodeo ever since.  He now lives on his native Island of Gloucester and plans world domination armed with a Captain America Shield and the internet.  Check!  Erick served on the core committee from 2013-2015, resigned, and later rejoined 2017 to present, the only committee member to serve two separate terms.



FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBERS

MIKE PASCALE
(February 2013-August 2023) Assistant Director, Copy & Graphics, Auction Assists, Ballot Artist Submissions

RHYS EVANS
(November 2015-December 2020)
Website Maintenance, Auctioneer

CHARLES EDWARD SELLNER
(February 2017-June 2017)
Nomination Committee Assist & Recruitment

JOHN DIXON
(November 2015 – May 2016)
Advertising, Inker Resources & Database: Nomination Committee Assist & Recruitment

MICHAEL W. KELLAR
(June 2011 – May 2015)
Fundraising: Auctioneer, Assistant Director since 6/12, Former Inker Database and Small Press & Indie Liaison

ERICK KORPI
(July 2013 – April 2015)
Fundraising: Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship Fund, Sinnott Inking Spotlight Challenge (Original Art Advisor, Ms. Inkwell Model Liaison: New England (2011, 2013), Former Ballot Validations (2014)

JOE GOULART
(January 2013 – September 2014)
Administrative Assistant (Conventions, Ms. Inkwell Model Liaison: New England (2013), Fundraising) Dropped down to volunteer position (late 2014-present)

SARAH L. COVERT
(November 2011 – August 2013)
‘Techno-Queen’, Present Website Design

JIM TOURNAS
(January 2008 – July 2013)
Founding Committee Member, Senior Committee Member 2012-2013, dropped down to Senior Contributor position

SUE SOARES
(October 2012)

STACEY ARAGON
(November 2011 – June 2012)

DANIEL BEST
(January 2008 – November 2011)
Founding Committee Member, dropped down to Senior Contributor position until Feb. 2015)

NATHAN MASSENGILL
(July 2009-August 2011)

BOB SHAW
(November 2008-June 2011) Returned as a Senior Contributor (Accounting) 11/13-present

KRIS FENOL
(December 2010-March 2011)

DAVE SIMONS
(December 2008- June 2009)
Committee Member Emeritus
Ad Infinitum (Deceased)

BILL NICHOLS
(January 2008- August 2008)
Founding Committee Member

TIM TOWNSEND
(January 2008- July 2008)
Founding Committee Member